Windmill



(No Model.) LA VERNE NOYES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

WINDMILL.

No. 523,843. Patented July 31, 1894.

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WINDMILL.

Patented July 31,1894.

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WINDMILLL' No. 523,843. Patented July 31, 1894.

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,UNITED" STATES PATE T OFFICE.

LA VERNE-W. NOYES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WINDMIL L.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of- Letters Patent N0. 523,843, dated July 31, 1894.

Application filed February 15, 1 8 94. Serial No. 500,235 (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, LA VERNE W. NoYEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Windmills, which are fully set forth in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

This invention is designed to provide an improved support for a windmill which operates a vertically reciprocating rod, as a pump rod, as a means of transmitting the power from the wheel downward to mechanism below.

The improvement consists, in general, in locating all the bearings of the mechanism on the turntable, substantially in the vertical line in which the pump rod reciprocates, which is, of necessity, substantially the axis of the turntable, and in connecting the pitman of the pump rod to the operating crank or crankwheel, also in the same line, so that the strains which the'operation of the mechanism puts upon the turntable, is all in one line, amount to a direct tensile or compressing strain upon the turntable. A lighter frame is required to withstand strain so applied than towithstand section at the line 2-2 on Fig. 1.

bending or torsional strain, which results from connecting the pitman or pumprod out of line with the bearings, since such out-of-line connection virtually alfords alevorage to multiply the strain tending to bend or break the frame or turntable. In connection with this general feature of construction, I have embodied certain details which are set forth in the claims, and a novel form of tail or steering vane which I have contrived with the same general purpose of lightening and stiifening the whole structure.

In the drawings,-Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a portion'of a turntable and mill embodying my invention, the turntable being in position to show the wheel edgewise, and the mill being shown facing the wind. The upper portion of the tower and lower portion of the turntable therein are shown in axial section. Fig. 2 is a horizontal detail Fig. 3 is a similar section at the line 3-3 on Fig. 1. Fig. 4. is a partly sectional elevation of the turntable and mechanism thereon, the position of the parts being the same as that shown in Fig. 1, the tailor steering vane being shown in end edge view, and the upper part of the turn table stem being shown in axial section. Fig. 5 is a detail elevation from the same point of view as Fig. 1, but showing the position of the parts when the wheel is out of the wind. Fig. 6 is a detail plan of the turntable and tail-bone, the relative position of the parts corresponding to Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is an elevation .of the parts shown inFig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrow 7, but showing the parts in relative position corresponding to Fig. 5. Fig.8 is a detail elevation of my ble B, about which they are fitted and which has a circular openingb through its top horizontal web to admit the stem of the turntable. At a distance below the apex, the three corner posts are further rigidly connected by a triangular casting C, rendered horizontally rigid by the wide marginal flanges O C G on the three sides, which, merging and being slightly expanded or thickened at the corners, form the seats for the inner faces of the angle or corner posts A A A, and give good thickness for bolts a a a which bind the posts to the casting at the angles. From the horizontal web of this casting theresprings at .the center a circular boss or hub C having the aperture a coaxial with the aperture in the top web of the thimble B, and equal, ex-

cept as to a segment which is filled up at one inserted in the seat described, whereby said stem is retained against vertical displacement while permitted to rotate in its seat, the stem of the key 0 being accommodated during such rotation in the last enlargement mentioned of the upper part of the central aperture in the hub, which is seen at b. The aperture c in the casting O is rendered segmental in form by the continuation of the web of the casting over the portion 0 through which, however, there is formed the small aperture 0 and from the lower end of the hub there is extended the. fiat wing or lug 0 whose face toward the center is in thevertical, plane of the chord of the segment a, the: aperture 0 being, at the outer side ofsaid. The purpose of this wing and of the Wllllg; segmental form given the aperture 0 and of the aperture 0 will hereinafter appear.

The turntable comprises the stem D which is tubular, being made of gas pipe about two or three inches in, diameter, which is diametrically split at the upper portion, and thetwo members D D spread apart and bent toward eachother at the upper end, as seen distinctly in Fig. 4. Between the spread members of this split tubular stem there is secured at the upper ends where the said members are again bent toward each other, the bracket or frame E,vwhich has the bearings for the wind-wheel and gearing. The form of this wheel-bearing frame or bracket is simple in outlinecomprising at the upper end the substantially circular boss E, having lugs or wings E E projecting divergingly downward from opposite sides, and shaped to afford; seats for the inwardly converging upper;

ends of the split arms D D of the stem, said armsbeing bolted to the lugs E E as seen in Fig. 4. From the rear end or side of this circular boss E, there is extended forward the arm E, at the lower end of which there 1 is formed the horizontally projecting lug E which afiords one pivot for the tail F, the

other pivot being afforded by thehorizontal lug E at the upper end of said vertical arm. A little below the middle of the vertical length of this arm E, there is formed upon it the long horizontal boss E, which affords bearing for the shaft of a gear wheel hereinafter mentioned by which the power of the windwheel? is transmitted. At the top of the bracket or frame E are formed two lugs E E, which afford bearings for the rock-shaft G, which; is concerned in the operation of i swinging the tail to throw the windwheel into and out of wind,ashereinafter more specifically explained.

His theaxle of the windwheel 7a, which is made rigid in the boss E extending horizontally from the center of that boss.

K is the hub of the wheel, the further details of whose construction need not be here described, as they form no part of the present invention. Rigid with this hub K, is the pinion K, which is located in the vertical plane of the spread arms D D of the stem.

The gear wheel K whose shaft k is journaled in the long horizontal boss E meshes with and is driven by the pinion K, and like that pinion is in the vertical plane of the spread arms D D of the turntable stem. The main vertical stem and bosses of the bracket E beingj ust back of the plane of said gear wheels and partlybetween the arms D which embrace them. As to the gear wheel K the arms D shield its teeth from the weather, and the bracket E constitutesahousing for the pinioninwhich it islalso perfectly shielded.

- J is the pitman. It extends downbetween .thearms Dand into the stem.D,as hereinafter more partiuclarly explained but is ofiset at the upper portion J to cause it to extend alongside the face of the gear wheel K and has secured to it at the upper end thewrist J which is rigid with the pitman, jutting off from it toward and into the gear-wheel K which is provided with. a socket to receive-it. In order that the main purpose of this invention may be subserved at this point, and: that the strain transmitted through. the pitman back to the train may be exerted as nearly as possible in line with the-bearings of the gear-wheels in the bracket E of the turntable, the wrist J terminates in a spherical knob for which there is provided a box K in the gear wheel K making a ball andsocket joint at the connection of the pitman tothe gearwheel, from which it results thatthe strain transmitted from thepitmanoperates always virtually as if it were applied at the center of the spherical knob J or center of the ball and socket joint described, which center is in the vertical plane which contains the axis, and in which the arms of the turntable stem are spread; and said center travels in that plane as the gear-wheel revolves. M is the pump rodor vertically reciprocat ing rod by which power is transmitted down- ,ward to the mechanism to be operated. At iits lower part, this pump rod is a segment of {a cylinder conformed substantially to the seggmental openingc in the casting 0, adapted to play easily through said opening, but not Ito turn therein. At the upper part, however, fit is circular, fitting loosely within the tubuilar stem D of the turntable, the shoulder m marking the end of the segmentalportionand.

the commencement of the full circular portion.

Erod has the aperture Mflwhich emerges at the flat face of the segmental portion at the "lower end of the cylindrical portion, and forms 1 a groove m in that segmental face, diminish- Theupper cylindrical portion of the pump ITO ing in depth until it runs out toward the lower,

end of the rod. This aperture M is enlarged toward the upper part fora purpose which will hereinafter appear. At the upper end the pump rod is reduced in size at M and reinforced by a metal ferrule M, which has the head M overhanging the end of the pump rod, and provided with an aperture m less in diameter than that upper end, but widening outwardly as seen in Fig. 1.

The lower end of the pitman J is provided with a knob or button J thickest at the middle and tapering at the edges all around and adapted to occupy the space between the end of the pump rod and the overhanging annular shoulder around the aperture M and constitute meansof connection of the pitman to the pump rod of the nature of a ball-andsocket or swivel joint, but quite loose and free in its action. The lower portion of the pitman, is flattened by being cut away at one side nearly to the center, and leaves uncovered an aperture J through the button J The rock shaft G has two lever arms G and G the first being connected by the link S to the tail F, and the second having connected to it the furling chain .0, said chain having at the upper end, and constituting the imme diate attachment to said lever arm G the extensible spring 0, and having connected at its lower end and constituting its continuation down from the turn-table, the fur-lingwire or rod 0 which passes through the aperture J in the center of the knob or button J and extends down thencethrough the aperture M in the pump rod M, lying in the groove m at the lower segmental portion of that rod, and finally passing through the aperture O in the casting 0 outside of the O24 t A spring G coiled upon the shaft G, and reacting between the shaft and thebearings, tends to rock that shaft into position to hold the tail parallel to the wheel to keep the wheel idle, and the tension of this spring must therefore be overcome in turning the vane toward aposition at right angles to the wheel to hold the wheel in'wind.

The tail is made of split and forked pipe P, between whose fork arms P P the tail vane is secured edgewise, as hereinafter explained in detail. The tail is bent at 19, whereby, without having its pivot remote from the wheel, the tail is set off from the plane of the wheel when it stands-parallel to the latter, as is desirable in order that it may not be in danger of becoming entangled with the wheel. This detail of construction is in pursuance of the main intention,-to locate the bearings to which the strains are directed as nearly as possible in one line, so that the strength required in the turntable shall be minimum.

The vane Q is made of sheet metal, which,

in lieu of ribs and beads, or stiffening cross-- bars, which are usually employed, is slit from the edge inward'at short intervals all around the periphery, the slits being four or five inches long and the metal tongues between rections from the plane of the vane, as shown in Fig. 10, so that they diverge'about sixty degrees more or less, and a fiat metal band B, three or four inches in width, is extended around the periphery resting on the ends of the spread tongues and secured in any suitable manner. I have usually secured the band by folding its lateral edges inward, forming lips 'r 7", which clasp the ends of the tongues q q, and are clinched down upon them' as seen in Fig. 10. This has the same efiect in stiffening the vane as the formation all around the periphery of a triangular bead having in cross-section the dimensions of the triangle bounded by two consecutive lips and the band which spans their spread ends,that is to say, about fourinches by four inches by three inches, more or less. The weight'of the vane is increased very slightly by the addition of i the band, and ribs'or corrugations extending acros's'the vanes are rendered unnecessary.

When the wheel is out of wind,,the tail being parallel with the wheel, the lever arm G sition in question, is stopped against the shoulder E on the bearinglug E The wheel is thus locked out of wind until the furling.

rod is operated to swing the arms G down away from said stop shoulder.

When the fur-ling rod is released to permit the lever arm G to swing up to allow the wheel to swing out of wind,its free extremity passes up to the position shown in Fig. 5, where the spring G with which that arm is provided, stands in the path of cross-bars of the wheel, of which one is shown at it; and as the wheel continues to revolve from its acquired momentum, these arms collide, one after the other, with the spring terminal of the'lever arm G said terminal yielding to allow the cross-bars of the wheel to pass, until, by such repeated collisions, the momentum of the wheel is overcome and finally a cross- 1 bar comes against the spring terminal without enough momentum to bend. the latter aside,

and the wheel comes to rest with the crossbar against the spring terminal of the lever, which thus operates as a break or check and finally as a lock for the wheel.

I claim- V V 1. In a windmill, a turntable comprising a tubular stem split and spread at the upper part, and a bracket secured between the spread arms having bearings for the wind wheel and gearing train: substantially as set forth. 7 I

arms between the same;- the pitman having a wrist set off rigidly from it and making a balland-socket joint with the pitman driver, the

pitman being set 01f, at a distance below the wrist, into the vertical plane of the center of said ball and socket joint, and the pump rod connected to the lower end of the pitman and.

reciprocating within ,thetubular stem: substantially asset forth.

3. Ina windmill, in combination with a pitman driver having its center located substantially in the line of the vertical. axis of the turntable, the pitman having its lower end reciprocating: also substantially in the same line and its upper end connected with the driver by a ball and socket joint whose center rotates with the driver in a vertical plane through the same line: substantially as set forth.

4. In combination with the tower, the turntable having a tubular stem vertically journaled in the tower; the plate 0 having a stepbearing for the lower end of the stem, said bearing having a vertical aperture corresponding to the tubular opening of the stem except as to asegmentc at one side; the pump rod occupying the central aperture in the turn-table stem andfiattened at one side to adapt it to pass through the segmentally reduced aperture in the plate 0, whereby said pump rod is prevented from rotating with the turntable: substantially as set forth.

5. In combination with the tower, theturntable having a tubular stem vertically journaled in the tower; the plate 0 rigid with the tower having an aperture corresponding to that of the tubular turn-table except as to the segmental web 0 which occupies a portion of thecross-area of such aperture; the pump rod occupying the cavity of the tubular stem and flattened at one side to adapt it to pass through the segmentally reduced aperturein the plate 0, and having a longitudinal aperture extending from the upper end to the surface at a point below the end and above the plate 0, and the furling rod extending through the segmental web 0 and through said longitudinal aperture of the pump rod: substantially as set forth.

6. In combination with the tower having the plate 0 rigid with the same below the top, the turntable having a tubular stem vertically journaled in the tower; the pump-rod located within the stem and made non-circular in cross-section for a portion of its length which reciprocates past the plane of the plate 0, said plate having an aperture corresponding to the non-circular cross-section of the pump rod through which the latter reciprocates, whereby the plate prevents the rod from rosuitable aperture provided for it in theplate C: substantially as set forth.

7. In combination with the tower; the turntable having a tubular stem vertically journaled in the tower; the plate 0 rigid with the tower at a distance below the. top and having a step bearing for the turntable stem; the

pump rod located in the: tubular stem and made non-circular at a portion which reciprocates past the plane of the plate 0, said plate having an aperture Within the circle of the step-bearing of the stem corresponding to the non-circular cross-section of the pump rod, whereby the pump rod is preventedfrom rotating with. respect to the tower, thepump rod having alongitudinalaperture extending from its upper end and emerging at thesurface at a point above theplate C, the web of said plate within the step-bearingandf aside from the aperture made for the pump rod having a further aperture, and the furling rod or wire extending through the longitudinal aperture in the pump rod and through said further aperture in theweb of the plate 0: substantially as set forth.

S. In combination with the turntablehaving the bearings for the windwheel and train actuated thereby; the tail pivoted to said turntable; a rock-shaft. journaled on said turntable and crossing the vertical plane of the axis of the windwheel obliquelythereto; lever arms on said rock-shaft, one of said lever arms being linked to the steeringtail: and the other connected to the furlingrod: substantially as set forth.

9. In combination with the turntable, the windwheel journaled thereon and having projections extending back toward thetower, the tail pivoted to the turntable; the rock shaft G and connections therefrom by which it operates the tail, the lever arm G of said rock-shaft having its end when the tail is parallel standing in the plane of said projections, said arm having a spring whereby it is adapted yieldingly to resist the rotation of the wheel when the projections collidetherewith: substantially as set forth.

10. In combination with the tower and the turntable vertically journaled therein, the windwheel journaled on the turntable; the tail pivoted to the turntable nearto the turntable axis and to the vertical plane of the wheels rotation, and bent at an oblique angle at a short distance from its pivot, whereby the strain of furling and holding the wheel in wind is brought to bear upon the turntable near the line of the axis and the tail is set off from the plane of the wheel when the latter is out of wind: substantially as set forth.

11. In combination with the turntable, the tail pivoted thereto, the rock-shaft G having the lever arm G and the link S connecting it to the tail; the arm G? by which the rockshaft is operated, said lever arm and link being so related and connected to the tail that the pivotal connection of the link and arm moves past the plane which contains the axis of the rock-shaft and the pivotal connection of the link to the tail when the wheel is furled the bearing of the rock-shaft having the stop;

below the pivot of the tail-bone, whereby the tail is braced against torsion: substantially as set forth.

13. In a windmill, a steering tail having its vane consisting of a metal sheet slit inward from the edges to form tongues between the slits; alternate tongues being bent divergent from the remaining tongues, and a band encompassing theperiphery of the vane secured in position spanning the angle of divergence between the two sets of tongues; substantially as set forth.

14:. In a windmill, a steering tail having its vane consisting of a metal sheet slit inward from the edges to form tongues between the slits, alternate tongues being divergent from the remaining tongues, and a band encompassing the periphery of the vane secured in position spanning the angle of divergence between the two sets of tongues: and the tailbone forked to embrace the vane edgewise and securedlto'the band at the edgeszsubstantially as set forth.

15. In a windmill, the steering tail having I the vane made of sheet metal slit inward from the edges at short intervals throughout the periphery and the tongues bent alternately 1n opposite directions from the plane of the vane combined with a metal band encompassing the vane thus slit and secured seated upon the ends of the tongues and spanning theirangle of divergence: substantially as set forth.

16. In combination, substantially asset forth, the sheet metal body of the vane slit inward from its edges and having the tongues between such slits bent alternately in opposite directions from the plane of the vane, and the band encompassing the edges thus slit and bent, said band having its lateral edges introverted to form lips, the ends of the tongues of the vane being engaged under such lips: substantially as set forth.

LA VERNE W. NOYESQ Witnesses:

CHAS. S. BURTON, JEAN ELLIOTT. 

